Two Brothers

"Ah, sorry," Regina said, staring at her palm in shock. "I saw a big green fly about to land on your cheek, so I swatted it away."

Asher held his throbbing cheek, anger bubbling in his chest.

He looked around, and no one seemed to notice or see what had happened.

"What did you do, Regina? Did you slap me?" Asher hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh, there seems to be a bad odor coming from you, Mr. Jeremy, so a fly tried to cling to you. The smell of... Lies? Or the smell of... Stupidity?" Regina muttered, as if talking to herself, but she was sure Asher heard it too.

Asher was furious and raised his hand to slap Regina back, but a strong hand caught it and sent him staggering.

"Regina, I've been looking everywhere for you," Trevor said, putting an arm around Regina's shoulder. "So you're ready to go home?"

"It's too boring here," Regina said calmly. "Let's go home. Don't we have an appointment to meet Tristan at the hospital?"

"Ah, yes, I almost forgot, you should get yourself checked again," Trevor said, snapping his fingers.

Trevor turned to Asher, who was listening to his conversation with Regina, his brow furrowed.

"Regina, are you sick?" Asher asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Oh, no, Mr. Jeremy," Regina replied calmly. "I'm just doing a routine detox, ridding myself of any germs and bacteria I might have brought from my ex-husband and his family. I don't want to bring illness to my family."

Trevor laughed heartily at Regina's words, while Asher's face flushed red.

"We have to go now, Mr. Jeremy," Trevor said calmly. "I personally didn't want to come here. But my sister here insisted, saying that, as the hotel owner, she needs to ensure the event at her hotel runs smoothly."

Asher stammered. "H-hotel owner? Y-you mean, this hotel, yours?"

Trevor laughed.  "Oh, no. I'm busy enough running my own company. This hotel belongs to Regina. So do several real estate companies under the Maverick Group."

After saying that, Trevor took Regina's hand and placed it on his arm. They walked out of the hall together, leaving Asher to lean against a nearby table in shock and confusion.

"Asher, what's wrong with you?" Janus asked, watching his brother unsteadily walk to one of the chairs in the family seating area.

Asher massaged his forehead. He still couldn't process what had happened. There was so much information he was receiving at once, but it all sounded and felt so absurd.

What did Trevor mean, Regina owned this hotel? This largest and most luxurious hotel in Houston, one of the real estate companies controlled by the Maverick Group?

How could that be?

"Janus, if you were told Regina owned this hotel, would you believe it?" Asher asked.

Janus frowned, only for a moment, then immediately shook his head with a mocking laugh.

"No way! Just imagine, Asher, hasn't she started working at this hotel since graduating from college? Her position hasn't changed since then, right? She's the most loyal marketing employee I've ever known! Either she's stupid or lazy, or she's caused trouble that made management reluctant to promote her," Janus said in a know-it-all manner.

"You're right," Asher muttered.

"Come on, don't be too influenced by Regina. I'm sure she's trying to make you regret divorcing her, so she's doing everything she can to do that," Janus said. "Come on, there are still lots of guests waiting for you. Leika was looking for you earlier, too."

Meanwhile, Regina immediately took off her shoes as soon as she got into the BMW driven by Daryl Lanez, Trevor's personal chauffeur.

"Oh my gosh, I almost stuck the heel of this shoe in that bastard's eye," Regina muttered, rubbing her calf.

Trevor laughed. "So, why didn't you do it? You could say there was a mosquito stuck in his eye, so you helped him kill it, just like you swatted a fly off his cheek."

Regina laughed. "Did you see that?"

"Of course, princess. I've been watching you," Trevor said. "I was worried you'd just knock out your jerk ex right there on his wedding day."

Regina shrugged. "No. I told you I'd take it slow, because that would feel better than killing him all at once."

"Uh, I forgot you had such a cruel side," Trevor said, feigning a shudder. "Five years haven't changed you much."

Regina grimaced.  "Don't tease me, Trevor. I've realized my stupidity and mistakes. Now please help me straighten out my life and create a new me, okay?"

Trevor pinched Regina's cheek affectionately. "If it weren't for Dad holding me back, I would have brought my bodyguard team to beat up that bastard."

Regina laughed and hugged Trevor tightly. "I'm sorry, Trevor. I was too stubborn, weren't I?"

Trevor kissed the top of Regina's head. "The important thing is that you're finally back. This time, you can't deny it anymore. Poor Dad, he's tired and wants to retire soon."

"Why don't you take over our family business, Trevor? Or Tristan? Why are you leaving it to me?" Regina asked, half-sulking.

"Because Tristan and I are men. We have to build our own futures and goals, and you, with everything our family has, shouldn't have to work so hard. Whoever becomes your husband will be a lucky man, if only he loves and protects you sincerely," Trevor said firmly.

"I thought Asher would always be like that, because when we first met at the charity bazaar, he was the one who approached me first," Regina muttered.

"No one knows what fate has in store for us. Luckily, you discovered all his corruption before it was too late," Trevor said. "Ah, there's Tristan."

The car slowed and stopped right in front of a tall man with neat, sleek black hair, a handsome face with a calm expression.

Trevor rolled down the window. "Get in, Tristan. We're starving."

Tristan smiled and half-bent down, looking inside. He grinned broadly at Regina, then opened the door and took Trevor's hand.

"I'll be sitting right there," Tristan said, squeezing himself into the middle seat. "You've been with Regina all morning."

"Gosh, Tristan," Trevor grumbled, getting back into the car after Tristan. "No one's going to believe you're the youngest top surgeon in America, looking at you like this."

Tristan ignored Trevor's grumbling, but instead hugged Regina tightly. His large body seemed to crush her petite self.

Regina winced. "Ouch, Tristan, you're going to crush me before I can get revenge on my ex-husband and his family, and then I'll haunt you in return!"

Tristan laughed heartily and pinched Regina's cheek. "I still can't believe you're finally home."

"Hmm, even in defeat," Regina murmured, wincing.

"It's not defeat, because you realized and admitted it first, Regina," Trevor said. "You returned to the defense line before your fortress completely collapsed. That's good, so you can devise a new strategy to attack your opponent and win the battle."

Regina blinked and a tear fell.  "Ugh, I shouldn't have married that bastard, should I? I wasted five years of my life, and the sex wasn't even that great! He only lasted three minutes at most!"

Trevor and Tristan looked at each other, then burst out laughing. Daryl laughed from the driver's seat, too.